How do tropisms help plants survive?
1. Plants grow together with other plants.
2. Plants grow toward things they need.
3. Plants create their own food using chlorophyll.
4. Plants limit their needs in harsh conditions.
Tropisms help plants survive in several ways:
1. Plants grow together with other plants: Positive phototropism allows plants to grow towards light sources, which helps them compete with other plants for sunlight. This is essential for their survival as they require light for energy through photosynthesis.
2. Plants grow toward things they need: Positive geotropism allows the roots of plants to grow downwards towards the soil, where they can access water and nutrients needed for their survival. Additionally, positive hydrotropism allows roots to grow towards sources of water, ensuring their water requirements are met.
3. Plants create their own food using chlorophyll: Through photosynthesis, plants use chlorophyll to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. Positive phototropism helps plants to position their leaves in the most optimal way to capture sunlight for photosynthesis, ensuring they can produce their own food for survival.
4. Plants limit their needs in harsh conditions: Plants can exhibit negative tropisms to limit their needs in harsh conditions. For example, during periods of drought or extreme heat, plants may exhibit negative phototropism to position their leaves away from direct sunlight and conserve water through reducing transpiration. Negative geotropism may also occur in response to stress, allowing plants to alter their growth patterns and adapt to harsh conditions.